KZN opens shop for BRICS session
KWAZULU-Natal is open for business and is eager to play its part in the community of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), acting premier of KZN, Sihle Zikalala said.
Speaking at the BRICS Business Council at Durban’s Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre yesterday during a session on investment opportunities, Zikalala said KZN has developed a One Stop Shop which is conveniently located in Durban as an easy point of entry for potential investors.
“The One Stop Shop is geared to assist business people with all the necessary support to set up business in our province and to ensure the elimination of red tape in getting their business started,” Zikalala said.
With two of South Africa’s Special Economic Zones at Dube Trade Port and the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone, Zikalala said the province offers an attractive corporate tax regime that ensures greater value for investors.
He said the province had also embarked on an ambitious Aerotropolis development plan – the Dube Trade Port and King Shaka International Airport.
“We are creating a nucleus of an airport city that leverages integrated air services, cargo handling and logistics, together with a manufacturing footprint to ensure fast and easy access for goods into the rest of South Africa, Africa and the world.
“The province’s airline route development plan has ensured direct connections into Africa and the world including Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and – as of October 2018 – direct connections to London,” Zikalala said.
Earlier in the morning, Zikalala had met with the 25 council members of BRICS along with business leaders from the five BRICS countries at a closed session meeting.
Hundreds of delegates converged on Durban at the weekend for the BRICS Business Summit which is chaired by Dr Iqbal Survé, the executive chairperson of the Sekunjalo Group and Independent Media.
South Africa is the official host of the 10th annual BRICS Summit and the official summit will take place in Johannesburg.
The theme of the summit is “BRICS in Africa: Collaboration for Inclusive Growth and Shared Prosperity in the 4th Industrial Revolution”.
Zikalala said the annual meeting has generated optimism and brought hope to millions of people.
He said that a few years ago KZN began an “infrastructure revolution” with overall government infrastructure expenditure exceeds R200 billion over the next seven years.
“We are encouraging partnerships between the public and the private sectors to maximize investments and grow the economy together using the infrastructure as a catalyst,” he said.